The Ghost Galleon In the century following Columbus' dramatic voyage of discovery in 1492, the riches of her New World colonies helped make Spain the most powerful nation in Europe. Taxes on goods shipped from Central and South America by Spanish merchants enabled Spain to defend its Western Hemisphere claims against the English, French, and Dutch, and to extend its empire halfway around the world into the South Pacific.

The Atocha and its sister ship, Santa Margarita, are tragic milestones along this broad commercial highway (called Carrera de Indias by the Spanish) that carried

....... a single GOLD BAR will do !

...... from being a Fine FlapperGlas Fabricator to now a full time beach bum and part-time dirt-farmer - tending a small up-north Meeeeechigan purchased aPpLe orchard !